24 Different Types Of Sex You Might Already Be Having

It's odd how many people treat one type of sex — and one position — as the default. Missionary, of course! But sex comes in hundreds of positions and dozens of distinct types, and quite a few of them do a far better job of delivering pleasure and orgasms than plain old missionary.

Before diving into the full list of sex types, it helps to quickly cover the basic sex categories they all build on.

• Vaginal sex involves vaginal penetration (typically by a penis, sometimes by a toy).
• Anal sex centers on anal penetration. Plenty of men and women are into it. Find out why.
• Oral sex feels amazing because your partner's mouth and tongue land directly on your most sensitive areas.
• Manual sex means stimulation delivered by hands and fingers.

Keep in mind that any of these four activities can show up within the types below. Read on to see how many types of sex you might already be having.

1. First Time Sex

This could mean your literal first time ever, or just the first time with a brand-new partner. Even seasoned folks can feel nervous energy in this situation, and unfamiliarity with a new body often makes things a bit clumsy at first — though it usually gets better with practice.

2. Making Love

This is the classic slow-and-tender type of sex, full of eye contact and skin-on-skin closeness. It's genuinely hard to pull off without real feelings involved, but done right, it can feel like merging into one with your partner.

Discover how to make love for a deeper connection.

3. Casual Sex

At the opposite end sits casual sex — no emotional strings attached. Your partner might be a longtime friend or someone you barely know; either way, nobody's stressing over who texts first the next morning.

Casual sex does come with a few downsides worth knowing. Check out the 12 pros of casual sex to weigh whether it's right for you anyway.

4. Drunk Sex

Drunk sex is a genuinely thorny topic. Plenty of people drink to loosen up, and bars can be decent hunting grounds for a hookup (though probably not your best bet if you want something long-term).

That said, legally, a person who's drunk cannot consent, and unfortunately some people deliberately get others drunk hoping they'll say yes to something they'd otherwise refuse. It's a genuinely complicated area, so read up on 13 things that might happen during drunk sex before you go there.

5. High Sex

Like drunk sex, being high raises real consent questions. Still, plenty of people choose to get high specifically to change how sex feels — sensations can intensify, time can seem to stretch, or you might just feel unusually relaxed.

On the flip side, your reflexes may slow down and your judgment may suffer while high. Definitely steer clear of BDSM scenes when someone's impaired!

6. Kinky Sex

There's no single definition of "kinky," but kinky sex generally involves activities that would strike most people as unusual or wild — and it can lead to seriously satisfying orgasms. Get some inspiration from these 25 kinky ideas.

7. Rough Sex

Rough sex counts as its own category and often overlaps with kink. Rough sex is quick, intense, and can include hair pulling, biting, or scratching. It's not gentle or tender, and an outside observer wouldn't necessarily read it as loving — but it's undeniably passionate.

8. Morning Sex

Morning sex makes the most of that groggy, half-awake window before the day's demands kick in. You're not fully alert, unshaved legs and unbrushed teeth are beside the point, and the whole thing tends to feel more instinctive and less choreographed. Discover other benefits of morning sex.

9. Spontaneous Sex

Morning sex often happens spontaneously, but it's far from the only version of unplanned sex. Any time you find yourself swept up in the moment, peeling off your clothes and getting into it with zero advance planning, that's spontaneous sex in action. Without prep time, toys and restraints usually aren't in the picture — but it's still plenty hot.

10. Quickies

A lot of spontaneous sex ends up being a quickie — maybe because you're somewhere public (more on that shortly) or someone could interrupt at any second. Quickies skip the finesse, but sometimes that's exactly what scratches the itch until you can take your time later.

Read: Quickies 101

11. Public Sex

Public sex gets its thrill precisely from the risk of getting caught. People have pulled it off in cars, fitting rooms, and movie theaters. That adrenaline rush is real, but so is the possibility of arrest if you're caught in the act.

Want the thrill of public sex minus the legal risk? Try sex in the woods.

12. Planned Sex

Some people write off planned sex in favor of everything spontaneous, but we'd push back on that. Sometimes a little planning is exactly what prevents weeks — or months — of an accidental dry spell.

Planning ahead can actually be fun in its own right: picking out an outfit or toys, setting the mood with music and candles, and teasing your partner all day before the main event.

13. Vacation/Hotel Sex

Getting away for a weekend with your partner — maybe for a birthday or anniversary — is basically planned sex with better scenery. There's something irresistible about a bed you don't have to make, and stepping away from your usual responsibilities for a night or two. Sex outside your normal environment also does wonders for breaking up routine.

Don't forget to toss your favorite toys and lube (learn more about lube) into your bag before heading out.

14. Sex Outside the Bedroom

As mentioned, changing locations can reinvigorate your sex life, so make a habit of it. Maybe you go down on him while he's mid-video-game, or he catches you off guard in the kitchen — either way, it raises the temperature fast. Even the laundry room can work in a pinch.

Bathroom sex deserves a special shoutout here, and it doesn't have to be your own bathroom. Public restrooms offer a sliver of privacy — though never guaranteed — so speed matters if you're going for it there.

15. Makeup Sex

You've just had a big blowup, but it's resolved now. Makeup sex lets you burn off leftover anger or tension while reaffirming your commitment to each other. It often runs hotter than usual precisely because of the fight beforehand, which can actually work in your favor.

16. Breakup Sex

The relationship is ending, no question about it. So what happens? One final round together — the last one.

Breakup sex carries a bittersweet edge because you both know it's the end, but that same knowledge can make it incredibly intense. Give it everything, because this really is it — maybe intense enough that he second-guesses the breakup altogether.

17. Closure/One Last Time Sex

Ever bump into an ex sometime after the split? You're not in love anymore, but there's still a spark of attraction and old familiarity. Ending up in bed together feels easy, and it might even give you the closure you needed. But this really is the final time, and you're both at peace with that.

18. Hate/Anger Sex

This one isn't for everybody, and you'll see why. Hate sex happens between two people who genuinely don't like each other but still have undeniable sex chemistry. Maybe you're each trying to dominate the other, or maybe you just got swept up in the moment.

It's not accurate to call this type emotionless, but it's certainly not loving, and it's rarely a great long-term idea.

19. Cheating

Plenty of people would put cheating on the "bad idea" end of the sex-type spectrum. One partner is in a relationship built on monogamy, yet the two of you wind up in bed anyway. It could be pure lust or something with real feelings attached — either way, it breaks the agreement.

Curious why men cheat? You can also read why women cheat here.

20. Revenge Sex

Sometimes the chance for revenge is just too tempting to skip, and what's more satisfying than getting it through steamy sex? Whether you're sleeping with someone's partner to get back at them or targeting someone whose heart you're planning to break, the revenge is yours to claim. It just rarely plays out as satisfyingly as you'd hoped.

21. Taboo Sex

Several of the categories above could also be labeled taboo, but there's plenty more territory here too. A number of factors can make sex feel taboo, many of them tied to the relationship between the two people involved. Taboo sex includes things like:

• Student and teacher sex
• Sex with your boss or employee

The more conservative someone is, the more likely they are to view a given type of sex as taboo. Meanwhile, someone who's more sexually liberated might not see most of these as taboo at all.

22. Period Sex

This one often gets filed under taboo, though period sex carries far less stigma than it used to. It can be messy and a bit awkward, sure, but it can also ease cramps. Read more about period sex.

23. Shower Sex

Want to sidestep the mess of period sex? Hop in the shower together instead. There's something genuinely sensual about lathering each other up as water runs down your bodies — just watch your footing so you don't slip and cut the moment short.

24. Trying to Conceive Sex

If you're trying to get pregnant, the goal shifts to making a baby. This type of sex might be timed around ovulation to boost your odds, and you might reach for lube formulated to be sperm-friendly.

Now that you've gone through the many types of sex out there (and we've probably still missed a few!), it's time to start checking some off your list. You could have sex daily for an entire month and still not run through every type on this list — which honestly sounds like a fun challenge. Otherwise, just keep things fresh by trying a new type every so often.

January 12, 2021